I sometimes find it difficult to appreciate expensive wine, but I can always tell a good Hummus 🙂.

This list is there for very personal list by my taste, but it is based also on feedbacks of tourists. In general the food scene in Israel is AMAZING!, and that’s not just me saying it, but also Forbes.com..

The biggest buzz over a restaurant in Jerusalem for the last few years is at Mahaneyudah()which is located at the edge of the vegetable market by the same name (Mahane Yehudah Market). So popular and succesful that its owners now run four more restaurants, inlcluding TWO in London (!).

Other good choices would be Chakra(),and to less extent KosherAngelica() in the city center, and restaurants along Shlomzion street, such as Lara(), Focaccita(), or KosherGabriel(). An excellent combination of location and cuisine is Mamilla rooftop(), especially at sundown!.

And of course the best Hummus joints are in Jerusalem!. In the Old City go to Hummus Lina( top 10) or Hummus Achramawi, and in western Jerusalem go to Pinati ()(which is now a chain, but only the Jerusalem original branch is really good!). near it Ta’ami is also a good choice, and so is Hummus Talpiot, which is,well, in talpiot.

Outside Jerusalem a popular destination for an Arab cuisine is the village of Abu Gosh, where Naji () would be the best Kabab option, or Majda () in nearby Ein Rafa. If heading towards Gush-Ezion, Gavna will provide a good kosher vegetarian meal (with the most spectacular view in Israel!).

.In Tel-Aviv portyou can enjoy Mul-Yam()which is perhaps the best sea food in Israel (!). A less costly sea food option but still very good would be Benny Hadayag ().You can try also the new and trendy “Kitchen Market“(), and if you are a vegi, nearby Bariba ()is also a good choice.

If strolling inNeve Tzedek you can fetch some nice steaks at Makom shel Bashar()(=”A place of Meat”), and complement it with romantic Nana-Bar(). And you manage to get a table, try the restaurant that opens only once a week.. Burek().

For Chinese go to Sing Long near the central bus station, and for Italian the SUPERB “Cantina” () andAmore Mio()restaurant on Ibn Gvirol Street. Its neighbor Brasserie () will also be a pleasing experience, but the latest buzz is over Eyal Shani’sMiznon(),top-end “street food” style restaurant.

North of Tel-Aviv, Reviva and Celia(),in Ramat Hasharon are a coffee and desert “institution”.

The north offers a wide range of dinning possibilities, from Arab and druze kitchen, chef restauants, to Kibbutz lunch meals. In kibbutz Sdot Yam near Caesarea one can find a standard yet interesting kibbutz lunch. At Caesarea Harbor one can find several restaurants, but Helena (#1) stand out by fr as the best.

In Kiryat TivonLimousin() is a known Meat restaurant, now also operating its sister site Burger Saloon (). In the Upper Galilee, Churan in Hurfeish will provide a genuine and excellent Druze meal.

In Akko best Sea Food restaurant is the famous chef restaurant Uri Buri (). And for the best Sea food bar go toSavida (). For an Arab style fish restaurant try Doniana (), and for the best Hummus experience go to Humus Said ().

Heading south? I am afraid there is not much to offer along the way.. In Ashdod you have the superb “Idi” () Fish restaurent, and in Moshav Segula and Beer-Sheva you have the good meat restaurant of Cramim ().

Further SW, not to far from Gaza strip, Nethachim at Yad-Mordechai junction can supply a descent lunch break.

If your destination is Eilat via Road 90, perhaps best to pack some sandwiches and drive along the Aravah and only stop for Coffee at Aroma Hatzevah… Ok, you can do one stop at Yotveta for some locally made ice cream.

If you do go via Road 40, at Beer-Sheva the best option would be Cramim (), Oriental style Kampai (), or Moroccan style Yakuta (). For the best local street food go to “Beit Haful” ().

At Mizpe Ramon there are also several nice options: Tzokim (), which has the BEST view of all, although the dairy restaurant () of 5 star plus “Bresheet” () hotel has even a BETTER one.. Innsense (), Pangea (), Neto Besarim, or Hahavit () are also all good options. Near Mitzpe Ramon you can also try some really good wine at “Kish Farm” and “Rujum Winery” () at “Tsel Midbar“, or a good selection of local goat cheese at farms like Kornmehl () and Haroa () Farms.

Macdonaldscan be seen in every corner in Israel too, but if you are after fast food, atleast go for the local chains. There are several pretty good burger bar chains (Moses, Agadir, Black bar n burger, Burger’s Bar, Burgerim, and more), or go for some oily fatty and so tasty veal shawrma in Hashamen.

My recommendations

Testimonials

Just a note to thank you Danny for the MOST enjoyable time spent with you over such important days for you all. Nics, Henry , Piers & I feel that we have learnt a little about your marvellous country & all it’s trials & tribulations. It was a dream come true for me to visit the Holy Land. My mother was a nurse during the second world war & was based in Palestine with the RAF, & thoroughly enjoyed her time in your part of the world.. All in all we will never forget a memorable few days. Our thanks

“He is amazing. He knows the entire country like the back of his hand. As an archaeologist he has done some of his own personal research into the various holy sites which makes him able to provide information that no one else can. He’s a secular Jew, but can quote the New Testament then most Christians and has an amazing understanding and appreciation for what Catholics believe.”